Spinal supporter



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. DAVIS, OF MILLBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPINAL SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 6,680, dated August 28, 1849.

To all/whom t may concern Be it known that I, HENRY G. DAVIS, of Millbury, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spinal Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

Before entering upon a description of my invention, I will first state what is sought to to enable them to bring back the parts to their natural position, and perform all their functions in this situation. In curvatures 1 of the spine, it is desirable also, that the free, active, and full development of the thorax should in no way be obstructed, neither during treatment or by .any apparatus worn after the deformity is removed to prevent its returning. So far as I am acquainted, all the apparatuses now in use for treating curvatures of the spines, fall far short of accomplishing these objects, and there are also serious objections to their employment; the mostJ common difficulty with them is, they interfere with, if they do not entirelyk prevent the restoration of tone, and the balance of power among the sets of muscles connected with the spine; without which restoration of tone, a cure can never be effected. It is desirable that the apparatus should be so light in weight, of so elastic materials; that the pressure should be so applied, and so equally distributed, that it can be worn night and day without intermission; also that it should so perfectly fit the body that it can be worn beneath the ordinary dress, unperceived.

In my apparatus, I have (as I conceive), avoided the evils and obtained the most satisfactory results. It is called a curvature apparatus, and is designed for treating curvatures and other diseases of the spinal column requiring mechanical support.

It'consists of two thin elastic plates of steel, or other material, one for the front A), the other for the back of the trunk B and parallel with it, of such width an thickness however as may be necessary to aord the requisite support to the body, and also of such length as a given case may require, that is as the trunk to which they are applied demands. At the lower end of these plates of steel A and B I attach another similar but narrower plate of steel (C), which being united at the lower end of A by a rivet, and at right angles or nearly so, curves around the pelvis and unites with B` in a similar manner at the lower end thereof keeping the said plates A and B in their proper places. The several plates are united as aforesaid by rivets whose heads project and are formed into buttons for the purpose previously mentioned. To keep A B and C in place, and to give thereby the support to the body which is designed in aid of the spine and muscles, I attach one end of a band (D), to the button of A, and

carrying it around the body, opposite the plate C and over the crest of the ilium but resting thereon, fasten the other end to the button or head of the rivet in the lower end of the plate B; so that the steel plate C encircles one side of the body and the band D the other, having their ends united at the rivets, and as the band D rests on the hip, the whole machine is sustained in its place, and by the appliances herein mentioned, gives support to the weight of the trunk, and aids both the spine and the muscles which naturally perform that oiiice.

To give the support required, and to keep A and B in place at the top, I use two elastic bands, which are marked E in the drawings. Each of these bands should be of sufficient length to pass quite around the body under the arms; near or at the center ofeach, to strengthen it where it is fastened to the steel plate', I stay it with leather or other suitable material. One of these bands is fastened to the top of the steel support A by one or more rivets, inserted through the stay and band; the other is confined to the top of B in a similar manner. The ends of the band upon the top of A are carried around the body, under the arms to or near to the top of B, and conined by pins, or any other convenient way to the other band E which is fastened as aforesaid to the top of B. The ends of the band E which is fastened to the top of B are carried round the body under the arms in vthe opposite direction, and pinned in a similar manner to the other band E near to which it is fastened to the plate A. In this arrangement of the bands they are double almost around the body, but

this is only essential so far as to give to. them sufhcient elasticity and strength; a single thickness possessing -the requisite amount of elasticity and strength, would answer' the same purpose. If but one thickness is used, there may bey one short band y scribed, for the purpose of bringing force to s bear directly upon the curve, in a case of curvature of the spine, I fasten by pins at a convenient point on the steel support A, one end of a band F, similar to the electric band E, which I carry around the body, over the center of the curve, upon its projecting side,

and confine the other end of it to the plate,

B by pins. If there are more curves than one a similar band arranged in this way should be passed over each.

By the bands E under the arms, D over the hip, and F over the curve or curves, eX# tension and support are given to the body tending to restore it to its natural posture when it is deformed. The machine is however usefully employed in the treatment of diseases of the spinal column other than those producing deformity, in such cases the band or bands F may not be required.

It should be remembered that the steel plate C should be around the side of ythe body, opposite to that toward which the curve in the dorsal region projects.

The steel plates A and B should as I have stated be of sufficient size and strength to sustain the superincumbent pressure upon them. I find by experience tha-t a plate about one inch and one eighth in width and from one sixteenth to one twentieth of an inch in thickness answers well in nearly all cases which occur;l but for largeheavy persons, stronger ones may occasionally be necessary and so also for very light and small persons, smaller ones would be appropriate. I make the plate B about equal in length to the distance between the top lof the pubis, and the top of the sturnum. l'Ihe plate A about two inches shorter; these lengths I find answer well.

The plate C I make of the same thickness of A and B, but onlyl about one half or five eighths of an inch in width. The distance between the holes through 'which the rivets the same process .to increase or size-.of theapparatus, so as torenderit ap- ;fplicable to persons of different dimensions. The band D, has in it a succession of holes,

pass should be about one half the circumference of the pelvis, where it is applied to it.

For the band D, I use as' I have stated leather, which usually is about two inches wide in the, center and gradually tapers to an inch and a quarter at the ends. It is also sufficiently curved to t to the body, the

.. broad part passing over and resting upon the top of vthe hip and the whole being suiiciently strong to sustain the weight imposed on it. l

For theseveral elastic bands I commonly use India rubber webbing; such asis often .worked into Suspenders, and is about two 'inches wide. ,ma-de and of goed strong material.

It should however be well These dimensions of the several answer Well in all ordinary cases but if greater .or less strength is necessary, the Size may be easily conformed to the emergency.,

I put not less than two holes in. the. lower ends of each of the plates A, B, and each end off the plate C, the design of which is twofold. First by removing the rivets from rone hole to the other, to vary the ydimensions of the appara-tus as may be oonvenient, to .accommodate ift to the change produced in they individual, by the :straightening of the curve, or curves, or change arising from any other cause, and secondi,` by

the

designed for the same twofold purpose of increasing or diminishing the support kgiven to. the body, or of increasing or the size of the apparatus. It is obvious that other materials may be used beside those specified, but I have found these to answer -every purpose. kThe parts. can be covered and ornamented to please .the taste. This apparatus wil-ladmit of the .addition Jof otherparts upon the top. of the plates and B for the purpose of supporti-ng the head and neck in. .those cases where such support might be useful, but it is notiny design to describe Vany such addition.,v Whether steel plates or .elastic or leather `bands would be 4thought a novelty is not for me to ;v

a er

r.but steel plates, and both elastic `and le bands being used for many purposes some of which might be thought to be rn c .ac-

ter not very dissimilar from .the use of ythese here described, I wish to. limit my discovery to the combinationandarrangement of the platesand bands as described in this. specification.

I therefore claim as kmy invention and discovery, and ask therefor Letters Patent of the United States- The combination .and arrangement of the steel plates, A, Bvand C, and the bands D and E, combined as occasion requires With al band or bands F, all the parts being G. DAVIS hereto subscribe my name in the so formed as to be capable of being united presence of the Witnesses Whose names are 10 in the manner and for the purposes set hereto subscribed, on this the seventh day of forth Ain this specieation, and constituting April A. D. 184:9.

When so in union a machine Which gives HENRY G. DAVIS. support to the body, When afflicted With any In presence ofdisease Which makes such support useful. WM. DIoKINsoN,

In testimony whereof I the said HENRY GEO. L. ALLEN. 

